Twisting machine for flat and formed bar stock



hei's-Sheet l INVENTOR l J/ eo i a ef f March 24, 1953 Filed Aug. 4. 1949 S. J. KOPEC March 24, 1953 TWISTING MACHINE FOR FLAT AND FORMED BAR STOCK Filed Aug. 4, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR.

1\ l `I s m. wml ,wem a Ms mw ww. Q n mv Sw March 24, 1953 s. J. YKOFEC f 2,632,494

TWISTING MACHINE FOR FLAT AND FORMED BAR STOCK Filed Aug. 4, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Maan'. 24, 1953 tionfo'f* Connecticut 4'Stanley"Vihirks'New Britain; Conn.; fa corpora'- Applicatiqn August 4, 1949,'seria1 No.11158.58?.V

. lThisinventionlrelatesgenerally to `a machine irtwisting .anelongated,at .piece ofi'metal into an open heli-'X 4,and it. relates more vparticularly to a machinefor twistingalat elongatedlength of bar-stock in helical form foruse in manufacturingawo'ed drin.

Ithasf'heretoforelbeen a costlyA and time. consunding process lt'o'form .thelflutingin atwist drill. It .isi necessaryto utilize-acomparatvely large amount of .stock'fin the .manufacture of these drills which isfwastedinfthe process of uting them.Y fBecauseprior processes of. making wood drills L have .been complicated and time consuming, `wooddrillslhaveilceenveryl high in cost and itl-haslbee'nfpractically impossible to supply the hdemand-'because of theflowv output of prior processesin manufacturing these drills.

It4 is, accordinglyyanobject of my invention to provide. amachinefortwisting Aflatl bar stock, and particularlybar stockfor. usein wood drills, which is simple .in1construction,"economicalin cost, .econcmicalinmanufacture, and ecient in operation. A c i Another object. orfmy invention is to provide a machine Afor.twistingat bar4 stock which maintainsthaxial alignment ofall parts of thetwistedlmfe'mber afterii't passes from .the-machine.

' 4`fin'otl'ler object ofmyinventionis toprovide a novel 'dieior a-macliine 'for twistingbarstcck.

i 'Anotherobject Voffmy invention isto provide a novel ,combination andarrangement of elements includingfelectrical `control means and hydraulic power meansfinamachine iortwisting ilatbar stock.. Y y 7 'Oth'er objects of myinvention willbecome evident. 4from the following'. detailed description, takenconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which f v VFig. lis a `plan view of mynovel machinefor twisting"V flat bar stock;

` `FigmZ isvaside elevationaliview of one of the complementary parts-of the die used in my novel machine for twisting rflat han stock Fig 3fis afside elevational view Vofthenovel die usedfinrmy-machine for twisting flat `bar stock; Figffiifisfanend View of the dieshown'in Fig. `3; Fig. is a view taken on the line"5.5A of Fig. 1 with myanovel machinefina :position toforce a hat piece-nfbar stockfthrough thedie; Figwis a viewtaken on thef1inef5-5'ofFig. 1 withV my ynovel* machineA in4 apposition whereby a hat f piece:l off bar stock "is ready fito f be disposed therein upon 'its imm/'ement towardsa. rear rp'osi- 10 Claims. (CI. 1*'53-d-78) 'Fi'g. Sis an-end'view'takenffrom theend o'f my machine in `which lthe'die is located;` and Y l Fig. 9 is a diagrammatical view of 'thehydraulic system for contrcllingthe'fluid to the hydraulic cylinderof my machine andvelectrical system used in conjunction tlierewith.` f

Referringnowitcthe draw'ings'J sh'owjin Figs. l; 5, and 6.a frame member I comprising ver"n tically extending, parallel isideH frame members f2 and 3 secured to transverse base members `4 'and A. spacingmember 6v is` disposed on oneiendc'f the 'side frame members'lfand 3 and secured thereto' by screw bolts 1.' Spacing: member. Iltis secured to thev other end ofthejsideframemembers .2 and. 3"by screw bolts "9, "the member 8 vhav'- ing anaxially extending aperture 'I0' withafcoun` terbore II forreceiving .complementaryrdies I3 and I4 shown ,particularly in4 Figs. 2, 3,'an`d 4'. Dies I3 and'l'have recesses. I5v forengaginglocking screws Ita wherein theyarelocked inithe counterbore I I'inithe member 8. Thedies I3 and I4 also haveeircumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending arcuate grooves I6 complementary to grooves .i1 inthemember 8 'wherein' longitudin'ally extending pins arejdispo'sed in `the aligned grooves. I5 and II topreventrotatoncf thedies I3 and I'zl'frelative toit'hecounterboreII ofthemember. Theidies'l and Mare 'each builtY so thatwhen they'areinan engaged cornp'lementarypositionas shown inFigs.-'3 and v4, 'a helical aperture I8 extends the length ofthe dies 'I3 and Illso thata dat barfofpredetermined widthand height will pass therethrough. :The entranceto thehelical groove I8 4is shown `in Fig. '4. `-Longitudinally extending, inwardly proiecting members 2| andZZare secured to thebo'ttom andthe top of the side-framemembers' and 3 to form'guidewaysffor a stationary base block-123 `and-a sliding-clamp 24; The-base block 2-3 is secured to the side frame-members 1 Ziand 3 by screw 'bolts -25 and it has a'longi-tudinally extending groove -26 for receiving -awhardenedinsert 21 with aongitudinally extendingh groove 28 with the upper portion thereof countergrooved1at-29 for receiving a piece off bar vstock tobe'pushe'd through the-dies-I3` and I4. f The sliding clamp 24 slides onthe vbase block'2-3fandit has a longitudinally extending groove IBIJ'forreceiving a hardened insert-v 3I with a longitudinally extend'- ngfgroove 32 complementary to1thegroove28fin the insert 21 in the baseblockZ.- The sliding clampiMl-1v locks the fiat bar stockv in the counter#- grooves 290i thegroove` 28.' -Complementary in serts ifland l341havi-r1g rectangular'recessesforming across-sictiI-i in alignment with `lthe countergrooves 29 are disposed in the ends of the grooves 26 and 30 in the base block 23 and slide clamp 24 respectively. The rectangular cross slot 35 formed by the inserts 33 and 34 is substantially of the same cross sectional area of the bar stock to prevent it from buckling transversely and to steady the end thereof when it is being pushed through the dies I3 and I4. A push rod 36 having the same cross sectional shape as the complementary grooved portions 28 with countergrooves 29 in the insert 21 and groove 32 in the insert 3l respectively is slidably disposed in the grooves 28 and 32 between the base block 23 and slide clamp 24 and has one end thereof supported in a slidable supporting block 31, the end 38 thereof being threaded to threadably engage an adjustable locking collar 39 extending into an axially extending aperture 4D in the support block 31. The collar 39 has lock nuts threadably engageable therewith and a shaft 42 is secured to the member 36 and to a conventional piston (not shown) movable in a hydraulic cylinder 43 of conventional construction. The slide block 31 has an upwardly extending portion 44 upon which is pivotedly mounted a linger latch 45 by a pin 46, one end of the latch 45 having a hooked portion 41 for engaging a latch block 48 on the slide clamp `24. A coil spring 49 urges the hooked end 41 of the latch 45 downwardly so that it automatically engages the latch block 48 when it is moved to l a position wherein the block 31 engages the slide clamp 24 as shown in Fig. 6. The latch block 48 has a contact member l] with forwardly and rearwardly projecting contact points 50a and 55h secured to the side thereof for engaging microa switches 52 and 53 on opposite ends of the stroke of the slide clamp 24. The relation of these switches 52 and 53 with the hydraulic system and the electrical Control system therefor will be hereinafter described.

The hydraulic cylinder 43 has pipe lines 54 and V55 in fluid flow relationship with opposite ends thereof as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9. The lines 54 and 55 are in fluid flow relationship with a solenoid operated valve 55 having a slidable piston 55a with three reduced portions 51, 58, and 59 forming chambers adapted to direct the flow. of fluid from the uid line 50 to the iiuid lines 54 and 55 alternately to cause the movement of the piston in the power cylinder 43. A fluid line 52 leading from the valve 56 is in fluid flow relationship with a reservoir or tank 63 to provide for the return of fiuid from one or the other of the lines 54 and 55 alternately. Solenoids 54 and 65 move the piston 65a longitudinally to alternate positions. The solenoid 65 is connected to the power lines 66 and 61 through wire 63, wire 10, switch `Fil-solenoid 55, and wires 14 and 12 to the power line 56. The solenoid 64 obtains its power from the power lines 6G and 61 through the wire 68 and switch 69, wire 13, solenoid 64, wire 14, and wire 12 back to the power line 66. The wire 13 also has connected thereto wire 16 which is connected to solenoid 11 of solenoid operated valve 18, and wire 19 back to `the power line 65. The valve 18 also has a solenoid 86 on the opposite end thereof connected lto power lines 66 and 61 through a microswitch 53, wire 32, solenoid 80, and wire 33 back to the power line 66. The valve '.'8 has pistons 84 and 85 for alternately closing the line 86 leading to the tank 63 and the line 56 leading to the valve 55. The valve 18 has uid lines 81 and 89 leading therefrom in fluid flow relationship with a pump 88 and the tank 63 respectively. A conventional electric 4 motor 90 is connected to the pump 88 by a shaft 9| and coupling 92. The microswitch 52 is provided in 4the circuit to energize the solenoid 64 after the piston in the cylinder 43 moves to the left in its power stroke thereby causing the return of the piston and sliding member 24 to their original positions. i v. Y

In the operation of my novel machine for twisting flat bar stock, the slide member 24 is moved to its rearwardmost position with the contact member 50a in engagement with the microswitch 53 thereby closing the circuit made by wires 61 and 68, switch 69, wire 8l, wire 82, solenoid 86, and wire 83 to the power line 66 to energize the solenoid 80 and cause the uid under pressure caused by the operation of the motor 96 and pump 88 to flow through the i'luid line 86 back into the tank 63 and return through the fluid line 89. A piece of flat bar stock is then laid in the countergrooves 29 in the base member 23 and the slide clamp 24 is pushed forwardly into engagement with 4the member 8 thereby locking the bar stock in the countergrooves 29 of the base member 23. The switch 69 is then energized causing the energization of the solenoids 11 and G4 of the valves 18 and 56 respectively thereby placing the line 66 leading to the valve 55 in fluid flow relationship with the line 81 leading from the pump 83 and the line Ellis placed in fluid flow relationship with the fluid line 55 leadin'I to the right end of the cylinder 43 causing the piston therein to move towards the left end thereof. When the valve 55 is pulled in the opposite direction by the solenoid 55, the line 54 is in fluid iiow relationship with the return line 62 leading to the tank 63. As the piston in the cylinder 43 moves to the left, the plunger 36 will engage the end of the bar stock and force it through` the groove i8 in the dies I3 and I4 wherein it will emanate from the outer end thereof in twisted for-m as shown in Fig. 5. After the supporting block 31 moves to a position in engagement with the block 23 and sliding clamp 24, the contact member 55h of the member 50 engages the microswitch 52 thereby moving the piston 63a in the valve 56 to the left and placing the line 66 in fluid flow relationship with the line 54 to cause the piston in the cylinder 43 to move to the right and thereby moving the supporting block 31, plunger 3E, and slidable member 24 to the right. The hooked portion 41 of the latch 45 engages the latch block 48 so that the slide member 24 is drawn to the rear with the support member 3l. When the support member 31 moves to the right to the completion of its stroke, contact member 55a engages the microswitch 53 thereby energizing the solenoid 85 to place the pipe line 81 in fluid ow relationship with the return line 86 to the tank 63.

When a flat piece of bar stock is twisted by my machine, it is only necessary to weld a shank on one end thereof and a threaded nose on the other end thereof by any well known welding method to form a wood drill. These wood drills have been found to be very satisfactory in operation and they can be made at a cost of much less than half of any of the cost of making the prior liuted wood drills.

Although I have shown and described a machine for twisting at bar stock, it will be evident that my machine may be utilized for twisting bar stock having the central part thereof thicker than the lateral outer sides thereof. The stock may converge laterally outwardly from the center thereof or the central portion thereof may be rounded or arcuate in shape.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that I have provided a novel machine for twisting flat bar stock into open helical form which automatically performs the twisting of the rod after it is placed in a locked position and a switch is actuated, one which has automatic return means for the plunger, one which has automatic means for bypassing the hydraulic fluid back to the tank when my machine is not in operation, one which has novel dies and a novel combination and assembly of parts to prevent misalignment of the bar when it is being twisted and automatic means for holding the bar stock in a position wherein it may be slid longitudinally without misalignment and twisted.

Various changes may be made in the specific embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for twisting flat bar stock comprising a stationary member having a longitudinally extending groove for receiving a piece of flat bar stocky a complementary slidable guide member longitudinally movable over said groove on said stationary member to cover the bar stock in said groove in said member, said groove in said stationary member being exposed when said slidable member is moved therefrom to receive a piece of bar stock, a die in alignment with said groove in said stationary member having an internal, helically exten-ding aperture, a push rod for forcing said bar stock longitudinally through the aperture in said die and out of the groove in said stationary member, and power means for moving said push rod.

2. A machine for twisting flat bar stock comprising a frame, a stationary support block mounted on the frame having a longitudinally extending T-shaped groove in one surface thereof adapted to receive a piece of flat bar stock, a die mounted on the frame having a helically extending aperture extending axially thereof in alignment with the groove in said support block, a guiding member having a surface adapted to cover the groove in the support block, means whereby the guiding member is retained in superposed position on the support block to hold a piece of work in said T-shaped groove but permitted to slide to a position exposing the groove for the insertion of a piece of work therein, a push rod movable in the groove in said support block for pushing said bar stock through said helical aperture in said die, and means for moving said push rod.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2'wherein the means for moving said push rod comprises a shaft, an hydraulic cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder connected to said shaft, and means for alternately admitting fluid to opposite ends of said hydraulic cylinder.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein a spring urged finger is movable with said push rod to engage said guide member to move it 1ongitudinally on said support block.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said guide member has a contact member movable therewith, microswitches are disposed adjacent the ultimate forward and return movement position of said guide member, means are connected to the switch adjacent said guide member in its forward position engageable by said contact for reversing the flow of fluid to said hydraulic cylinder, and means are connected to said switch adjacent said guide member in its return position to direct uid away from said cylinder.

6. A machine for twisting flat bar stock comprising a frame, a stationary support block in said frame having a longitudinally extending groove with center grooved portions on each side thereof adapted to receive a piece of flat bar stock, a guide block adapted to cover the groove in the support block, holding means cooperating with the support block whereby the guide block may be slid from superposed position on the support block tc retain a piece of work in said groove and a position exposing the groove for the insertion of a piece of work therein, a die having a longitudinally extending helical aperture for receiving said bar stock in alignment with the counter-grooves in said support block, a push rod for pushing said bar stock through the aperture in said die, hydraulic means for reciprocating said push rod, and means for controlling the hydraulic fluid.

'7. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said hydraulic means comprises an hydraulic cylinder having supports on opposite ends thereof, a piston therein, a shaft connected to said piston and to said push rod, fluid under pressure for admission to opposite ends of said hydraulic cylinder, and means for controlling said fluid under pressure to alternately admit and exhaust fluid from opposite ends of said cylinder progressively.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein solenoid valves are provided for controlling the fluid admitted and exhausted from said hydraulic cylinder, solenoids for operating said solenoid valves, a source of power for actuating said solenoids, and switch means for controlling said solenoids.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein said guide member has a contact member movable therewith to engage a microswitch on the forward movement thereof which is electrically connected to one of the solenoids controlling a solenoid controlled valve to reverse the flow of fluid passing to and from said hydraulic cylinder.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said stationary support block and said guide member have complementary recesses on the ends thereof adjacent said die to receive hardened inserts defining an oblong aperture substantially the size of the bar stock passing therethrough to said die.

STANLEY J. KOPEC.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

'UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 8,511 Johnston Nov. 11, 1851 497,827 Sellers May 23, 1893 1,549,140 McCurdy Aug. 11, 1925 

